Canine training apparatus

ABSTRACT

Canine training apparatus comprises a protective sleeve to be worn by the agitator-trainer. The protective sleeve comprises a plurality of layers of ballistic type nylon and nylon mesh material respectively to provide protection from canine tooth penetration and consequent injury to the agitator trainer. Adjustable single-handed fastener means are also provided to facilitate mounting of the apparatus on the wearer&#39;&#39;s arm.

I United States Patent 1191 1111 3,902,196 Reinfandt Sept. 2, 1975 1CANINE TRAINING APPARATUS 2,904,792 9/1959 Elliott 2/16 3,191,185 6/1965Martin 2/22 [75] Inventor: Karl F. Remfandt, lrvmgton, NJ. 3,269,0368/1966 Parker et aL H 2/22 X 3 Assigneez & 9 Professional Equipment3,562,810 2/1971 Davls 2/2.5

Co., Irvington, NJ, Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest [22] Fled: 1974Attorney, Agent, or FirmBernard Malina [21] Appl. No.: 447,291

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 2/2.5; 2/ 16 Canine training apparatusComprises a Protective 51 Int. Cl. F4111 1/02; A41D 13/08 Sleeve to beWorn by the agitator-Tamer- The P 5 Field of Search H 2 25 1 22 93 2 4tiVC sleeve comprises a plurality 0f layers Of ballistic 259; 128/165type nylon and nylon mesh material respectively to 1 provide protectionfrom canine tooth penetration and [56] References Cited consequentinjury to the agitator trainer. Adjustable UNITED STATES PATENTSsingle-handed fastener means are also provided to facilitate mounting ofthe apparatus on the wearers 1,304,558 5/1919 Grau 2/16 UX an 2,816,57812/1957 Frieder et a1. 2/2.5 UX 2,832,074 4/1958 Wheeler..;-'. 2/16 7Claims, 7 Drawing Figures M11 1 I a;

PATENTED SEP 2 975 FIG.

CANINE TRAINING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to apparatus for use in training dogs and moreparticularly to a protective device for use by the trainer in trainingattack dogs for security purposes.

In training attack dogs such as the German Shepherd, Doberman and thelike, for police and general security purposes, it is customary for onetrainer to serve as an agitator, i.e., to provoke the dog to attack himwhile a second trainer controls the dogs movements, allowing the dog toattack the agitator in a limited manner while the dog is restrained on aleash. It is desirable to train such dogs to attack intruders by bitingthe intruders clothing, and for this purpose, in the training sessionsthe agitator-trainer presents his forearm as a target for the dogs bite.The dog is taught to attack the agitatortrainers arm by biting into theclothing covering the agitator-trainers forearm and consequently tearingthe agitator-trainers clothing. In such circumstances, the dogs teetheasily penetrates the clothing covering the agitator-trainers clothingand presents a risk of serious injury to the agitator-trainer.

Heretofore, in such training sessions the agitatortrainer would weardiscardable clothing, such as an old jacket whose destruction would beof no concern and the agitator-trainer would rely principally on theskill of the other trainer to restrain and withdraw the dog before theagitator-trainer suffer serious injury. Clearly, the foregoingarrangement for safeguarding the agitator-trainer does not eliminaterisk of injury to the agitator-trainer and, therefore, tends to inhibitproper training of the attack dog.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide armprotective apparatus for use in training attack dogs.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide armprotective apparatus of the character described which is lightweight,flexible and protective of the wearers arm against the bite of theattack dog being trained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the principles of thepresent invention there is provided a canine training apparatuscomprising a sheet of protective material having opposite side portionsadapted to be drawn together to form a tubular sleeve suitably shaped toconformably receive the wearers arm. The sheet of protective materialcomprises a plurality of overlying layers of material with at least oneof said layers comprising ballistic nylon type material and another ofsaid layers comprising nylon mesh material.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent during the course of the following specification when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a pictorial depiction of anattack dog being trained by an agitator-trainer wearing the protectiveapparatus of the present invention with the controltrainer maintainingthe dog in limited restraint;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the protective apparatus of thepresent invention in the drawn condition with a portion thereof inpartial section;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the protective apparatus shown in FIG. 2, theapparatus in FIG. 3 being rolled out generally flat;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of ballistics type nylon material employed as aconstituent layer in the sheet of protective material forming theprotective apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of mesh type nylon material employed as aconstituent layer in the sheet of protective material forming theprotective apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cutaway view of a portion of the sheet of protectivematerial of the protective apparatus of FIG. 2, with the constituentlayers thereof separated to reveal the inner construction of theprotective apparatus of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-section view taken along the line 77 inFIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, and inparticular to FIGS. 2 and 3 thereof, the protective apparatus of thepresent invention, generally indicated by the numeral 10, is in the formof a sleeve suitably shaped so as to conform, when in the appliedcondition of FIG. 2, with the arm extending from slightly above thewrist to the armpit. Accordingly, sleeve 10, in the applied condition ofFIG. 2, is reduced in size at the lower end thereof and flares outwardlytoward the upper portion thereof which receives the wearers arm close tothe shoulder and armpit.

Sleeve 10 may be formed of several layers 12 of protective fabricmaterial bound together in place at the outer borders thereof bystitching 14 and a fabric binding 16 to form the unitary sleeve 10. Asshown in FIG. 3, sleeve 10 comprises a pair of straight side portions 18and 20 adapted to be drawn together and overlapped and curved endportions 24 and 26 forming the opposite end openings for sleeve 10 asshown in FIG. 2. Suitable adjustable fastener means 22 is provided alongthe edge length of overlying portion 20 and opposing underlying portion18 to provide single-handed adjustable fastening of sleeve 10 by thewearers free hand.

Fastener means 22 comprises a first fabric strip 28 continuously securedalong the length of one of its sides to sleeve portion 18 by means ofstitching 30. A row of spaced eyelet-reinforced apertures 32 areprovided in strips 28 along the length thereof. Fastener means 22further comprises a second fabric strip 34 secured along the length ofone of its sides to sleeve portion 20 closely adjacent and parallel toborder binding 16, as best shown in FIG. 3.

Another row of eyelet-reinforced apertures 36 are provided in strip 34similarly spaced and positioned along the length of strip 34 so thateach aperture aligns with the corresponding aperture 32 when sleeve sideportions 20 and 18 are overlapped and drawn together as shown in FIG. 2.

Fastener means 22 further includes a plurality of single-handed lacings38 spaced along the length of strips 30 and 34. Each lacing 38 comprisesa plurality of closed looped cords 40 each of which is drawn over thetop surface of strip 34 through two adjacent eyelets 36, from theunderside of strip 30 through a corresponding pair of eyelets 32 andhave their terminal ends fastened to one end of fastening strap 40.Strap 40 is provided with a fibrous surface for releasable adhesion to amatching fibrous surface on corresponding strip 42 stitched to endportion 20. Fastener strap 40 and strip 42 may be of the well known typemarketed under the trademark Velcro."

As previously indicated. sleeve 10 comprises a plurality of layers 12 ofprotective fabric material. 1 have found that in order to provide alight-weight flexible protective sleeve 10 with good resistance topuncture by canine teeth and the ability to limit in-depth penetration,fabric layers 12 may advantageously variously comprise ballistic typenylon material 44 and nylon mesh material 48. I have found to beparticularly suitable for such purposes, nylon mesh sheet material of840 Denier and ballistic type nylon sheet material having a weight of11.9 ounces per square yard.

Ballistic type nylon sheet material shown in FIG. 4 is characterized byits closed weave, i.e., the absence of any gap between adjacent parallelstrands 46 thereof, thus presenting a continuous sheet surface which ishighly-resistant to puncture by a sharp object such as canine teeth.

Nylon mesh sheet material shown in FIG. is characterized by a close butnot completely closed weave, so that there are small gaps 50 betweenparallel yarns 52. Because of the strength of the nylon yarns 52 andtheir weave, such nylon sheet material 48 resists forced enlargement ofthe gaps 50 or tearing when a wedge shaped element such as a caninetooth penetrates material 48.

1 have found that in order to provide good protection for the wearersarm from canine bites, it is advantageous that the outer layer 12a ofsleeve comprise ballistic type nylon sheet material 44 and that at leastone interior layer comprise nylon mesh material 48. Thus, the outerballistic nylon layer 120 tends to prevent initial penetration, i.e.,puncture, of sleeve 10 by canine teeth. Should the dog being trainedmanage to effect initial penetration, i.e., through outer layer 12a,however, it becomes essential that further penetration through sleeve 10be limited in order to avoid injury to the wearer. Since nylon meshmaterial 48 is particularly resistant to in depth wedge penetration byvirtue of its yarn and weave strength. such material comprises at leastone of the inner layers.

Should the canine teeth manage to penetrate both the outer ballisticnylon layer 120 and the inner nylon mesh layers it is important thatsuch penetration not go beyond the innermost layer of sleeve 10 wherebythe wearer's arm would be vulnerable to injury. Accordingly, theinnermost layer 122 may advantageously comprise ballistic nylon material44.

Obviously, resistance of sleeve 10 to penetration by canine teeth willincrease with an increase in the number oflayers of ballistic nylon andnylon mesh material. The number of such fabric layers must be limited,however. in order to preserve the required flexibility in the sleeve 10for reasons of comfort and freedom of flexure of the wearers arm. Inthis connection. 1 have found that optimum resistance to canine toothpenetration with adequate flexibility is obtained by having theoutermost layer comprises ballistic nylon material 44, the next twoinner layers 12b and 120 comprise nylon mesh material 48, and the nextto last and innermost layers 12d and 120 respectively comprisingballistic nylon material 44. It has also been found that theintermediate nylon mesh layers provide a protective cushioning. i.e.,absorption of the pressure from the canine bite.

The protective sleeve 10 may advantageously be worn by theagitator-trainer under conventional outer clothing such as ajacketwhereby the dog being trained will be unaware of the protective sleeve.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed herein. it is obvious that numerous ommissions, changes andadditions may be made in such embodiment without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Canine training apparatus comprising a sheet of protective materialhaving opposite side portions adapted to be drawn together to form atubular sleeve suitably shaped to conformably receive the wearers arm,said sheet of protective material including a plurality of overlyinglayers of material, at least the outermost top layer of said sheetcomprising ballistic type nylon material and at least one of theintermediate layers of said sheet of protective material comprisingnylon mesh type material.

2. Canine training apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein at least theinnermost bottom layer of said sheet of protetive material comprisesballistic type nylon material.

3. Canine training apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein at least theinnermost bottom layer of said sheet of protective material comprisesballistic type nylon material and at least one of the intermediatelayers thereof comprises nylon mesh material.

4. Canine training apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein two of theintermediate layers of said sheet of protective material comprise nylonmesh material and one of the intermediate layers thereof comprisesballistic type nylon material.

5. Canine training apparatus as defined in claim 3 including adjustablefastener means linking said opposite side portions to permit conformableadjustment of said apparatus on the wearers arm.

6. Canine training apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein saidadjustable fastener means comprises single-handed lacing means securedto said opposite side portions for drawing said opposite side portionstogether.

7. Canine training apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said lacingmeans extends substantially along the length of said opposite sideportions.

1. CANINE TRAINING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SHEET OF PROTECTIVE MATERIALHAVING OPPOSITE SIDE PORTIONS ADAPTED TO BE DRAWN TOGETHER TO FORM ATUBULAR SLEEVE SUITABLE SHAPED TO CONFORMABLY RECEIVE THE WEARER''S ARM,SAID SHEET OF PROTECTIVE MATERIAL INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF OVERLYINGLAYERS OF MATERIAL, AT LEAST THE OUTERMOST TOP LAYER OF SAID SHEETCOMPRISING BALLISTIC TYPE NYLON MATERIAL AND AT LEAST ONE OF THEINTERMEDIATE LAYERS OF SAID SHEET OF PROTECTIVE MATERIAL COMPRISINGNYLON MESH TYPE MATERIAL.
 2. Canine training apparatus as defined inclaim 1 wherein at least the innermost bottom layer of said sheet ofprotetive material comprises ballistic type nylon material.
 3. Caninetraining apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein at least the innermostbottom layer of said sheet of protective material comprises ballistictype nylon material and at least one of the intermediate layers thereofcomprises nylon mesh material.
 4. Canine training apparatus as definedin claim 3 wherein two of the intermediate layers of said sheet ofprotective material comprise nylon mesh material and one of theintermediate layers thereof comprises ballistic type nylon material. 5.Canine training apparatus as defined in claim 3 including adjustablefastener means linking said opposite side portions to permit conformableadjustment of said apparatus on the wearer''s arm.
 6. Canine trainingapparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said adjustable fastener meanscomprises single-handed lacing means secured to said opposite sideportions for drawing said opposite side portions together.
 7. Caninetraining apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said lacing meansextends substantially along the length of said opposite side portions.